Narrative:

I was with a student on an IFR training flight. We were doing the GPS runway 31 approach with the intent to circle-to-land on runway 13. Norcal vectored us to docal and we were cleared for the approach. Everything was going fine. Our track and altitude were all per the approach. Sometime during the approach (possibly around pudby) norcal told us to 'circle west of the runway for traffic.' we read back the instructions and had norcal confirm that we were to circle west to land runway 13. Norcal confirmed these instructions.when we got close to pao; norcal handed us off and instructed us to 'contact palo alto tower.' we switched frequencies and contacted pao tower. We were cleared to land runway 13 and in the same transmission (I believe) asked for base; tops; and visibility reports. We read back landing clearance and then I proceeded to give the requested reports while my student started the circle-to-land west of the runway.around mid-field the tower controller tells us that 'circle-to-land should be to the north'; or something to that affect. I responded that ATC had explicitly told us to circle-to-land west of the runway; so that is what we did. We had a short back-and-forth about the whole event while circling. Landing was uneventful. But then; while on rollout; we were requested to 'call the tower'. But the tower explicitly told us that we were 'not in trouble or anything; but to please call the tower after we get to parking.' so after parking I called the tower.during the phone conversation the tower asked me again why we circled west of the runway. We again explained that norcal had explicitly told us to circle west of the runway for traffic so that is what we did. The tower controller then told me that he had told us to circle-north. As I told him; I do not recall him instructing us to circle north. I believe that it is a 50-50 chance that he told us but we didn't catch the instruction; or that he didn't actually tell us but thought that he did. Had he told us we clearly would have circled-north as instructed. I am well aware that circle north is the common and authorized side for a circling approach.clearly there was a critical failure of communication between norcal and pao tower when norcal did not inform the tower of the circle-west instructions that they had issued to us.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: General aviation pilot reported being directed to fly counter to an approach with a published restriction to circling west of the airport. Coordination between TRACON and Tower was an issue. Controller working the aircraft also reported and stated he advised aircraft to circle 'north' of Runway.

Narrative: I was with a student on an IFR training flight. We were doing the GPS Runway 31 approach with the intent to circle-to-land on runway 13. NORCAL vectored us to DOCAL and we were cleared for the approach. Everything was going fine. Our track and altitude were all per the approach. Sometime during the approach (possibly around PUDBY) NORCAL told us to 'circle WEST of the runway for traffic.' We read back the instructions and had NORCAL confirm that we were to circle WEST to land Runway 13. NORCAL confirmed these instructions.When we got close to PAO; NORCAL handed us off and instructed us to 'contact Palo Alto tower.' We switched frequencies and contacted PAO tower. We were cleared to land runway 13 and in the same transmission (I believe) asked for base; tops; and visibility reports. We read back landing clearance and then I proceeded to give the requested reports while my student started the circle-to-land WEST of the runway.Around mid-field the tower controller tells us that 'circle-to-land should be to the north'; or something to that affect. I responded that ATC had explicitly told us to circle-to-land WEST of the runway; so that is what we did. We had a short back-and-forth about the whole event while circling. Landing was uneventful. But then; while on rollout; we were requested to 'call the tower'. But the tower explicitly told us that we were 'not in trouble or anything; but to please call the tower after we get to parking.' So after parking I called the tower.During the phone conversation the tower asked me again why we circled WEST of the runway. We again explained that NORCAL had explicitly told us to circle WEST of the runway for traffic so that is what we did. The tower controller then told me that he had told us to circle-north. As I told him; I do not recall him instructing us to circle north. I believe that it is a 50-50 chance that he told us but we didn't catch the instruction; or that he didn't actually tell us but thought that he did. Had he told us we clearly would have circled-north as instructed. I am well aware that circle north is the common and authorized side for a circling approach.Clearly there was a critical failure of communication between NORCAL and PAO tower when NORCAL did not inform the tower of the circle-WEST instructions that they had issued to us.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.